Bechukotay and Jerusalem: Light of the World
Bechukotay and Jerusalem: Light of the World

Our sages teach us “Who is wise? He who discerns what is about to come to pass”.

It was perhaps one of the most horrific predictions, when a century ago, the Meshech Chochma foresaw the Holocaust. While it is very dangerous for us to try and interpret the spiritual cause of the Holocaust, it is fascinating to see how it was viewed in the pre-Holocaust days.

The Meshech Chochma in his commentary on our Parasha addresses the verse: ‘And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break My covenant with them; for I am Hashem their G-d’ (Vayikra 26:44).

This verse bears within it the secret of the survival of our nation for over 2500 years of exile. The Meshech Chochma gives three practical explanations for how this survival was ensured.

The first is with regard to the behaviour and guidance of our forefathers.

The second is with regard to the decrees which our sages had decreed to separate us from the other nations.

Finally, the third explanation is with regard to his horrific prediction. The thirdr eason for the survival of our people relates to the practising of the Torah and Mitzvot. When in some generations many leave the Torah and find replacements for our values, for Eretz Yisrael and for Jerusalem, it result in an awful reminder:

“If the Israeli (i.e. Jew) thinks that Berlin is Jerusalem … then a raging storm wind will uproot him by his trunk… a tempest will arise and spread its roaring waves, and swallow, and destroy, and flood forth without pity…”.

This statement, ‘Berlin is my Jerusalem’ was introduced by Reform Jewry.

However, this warning of the Meshech Chochma is relevant to us all. No matter where one stands on the Jewish spectrum, there is a danger of forgetting Jerusalem to some extent.

If we view Jerusalem as merely a spiritual centre, then for 2,000 years of exile we have been creating new spiritual centres outside of Israel and can therefore forget why it is that we need Jerusalem.

We can, to an extent, settle for our communities and our largely populated Jewish areas around the world and forget that our heart, our longing and yearning should be focused on Eretz Yisrael and on Jerusalem.

Elsewhere, the Meshech Chochma explains how since Eretz Yisrael is the place where Hashem dwells, it is ever more so the case with Jerusalem. Similarly, the Chatam Sofer wrote that Eretz Yisrael is sacred, and Jerusalem holier.

And it was Rav Moshe Feinstein who wrote that since living in Israel and more so in Jerusalem brings with it more Kedusha, holiness, we should all strive to live there.

For 2,000 years we have settled for alternative spiritual centres, which on the surface could seem as substitutes for Jerusalem.

However, today as we celebrate 45 years of the return of our sovereignty to the heart of Jerusalem, we are closer than ever before to the fulfilment of the prophesy,– ‘For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Hashem from Jerusalem’. Then we will all, please God, merit to recognize how:

“Jerusalem is the light of the world. And who is the light of Jerusalem? The Holy One, blessed be He”(Bereshit Rabba 59:8).